The Subdudes

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The original Subdudes recorded five albums for High Street Records over the course of an enviably successful run of ten years of consistent touring. Then they broke up, a casualty of ten years of consistent touring. Sometimes even Subdudes need a break. During the downtime, several spin-off bands emerged, including Tiny Town, Three Twins, and the Tommy Malone Band. Then, in the spring of 2002, three of the original members, Tommy Malone (vocals, guitar), Steve Amedee (vocals, percussion, mandolin), and John Magnie (vocals, keyboards, accordion, killer goatee), ran into each other in Colorado. They jammed, they liked the result, and in the spring of 2004, the new Subdudes released their first album in eight years, Miracle Mule. Touring with the current incarnation, which returns to the Ark on Tuesday, November 8, are Jimmy Messa (on bass) and former band manager Tim Cook (on bass vox and bass guitar and assorted percussion).

"It kicks!" screamed one woman, when Tommy Malone told the Ark audience that they had a few copies of the new record for sale out in the lobby. Recorded totally to analog tape instead of a computer (guess what  it makes a difference), Miracle Mule features a host of sassy, brazen new Subdude originals. Cut after cut, Malone jabs the high notes like an adolescent spearfisher while everyone else doo-wops, croons, and wails as the moment demands.